Chapter 13: Reformation and Religious Warfare in the Sixteenth Century
Big Ideas
1. The late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were the times of the Northern Renaissance. Important to understand at the center of the Northern Renaissance was the large emphasis on reform, specifically religious reform. Like the Italian Renaissance, scholars worked to extend their knowledge in a wide variety of fields, but focused on religion as an area of study with sources such as Saint Augustine and Jerome. Reformers and philosophers like Martin Luther, Erasmus, and Thomas More were the prominent figures of the sixteenth century for their work in the Northern Renaissance. Through education in classical and Christian fields, along with practice in humanism, an end to the perceived corruption and distortion of modern Christianity could come about.
2. Due to increasing corruption in the Catholic Church, many became disheartened with its ways, inspiring the Protestant Reformation. Indulgences, pluralism, greed, and general ineptitude inspired reformers such as Martin Luther in detailing grievances in documents such as the "Ninety-Five Theses", as well as new major religious ideas such as salvation by faith alone and figurative vs. literal interpretation of scripture and practice. Similar to the later separatist and puritan movements of the Church of England, Christianity was split into various forms by the Protestant Reformation, two major sects being Lutheranism and Calvinism. However, there soon followed a Catholic Revolution, with attempts within the papacy to reform Catholicism's ranks, focusing largely on reaffirming faith in the papacy and its doctrine (such as with the Council of Trent), education, and charity work for the poor and starving with the likes of the Order of St. Vincent de Paul.
3. Unlike the Protestant Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire and surrounding mainland countries, The English Protestant Reformation did not start principally by change in philosophy and religious insight. The English Reformation was initiated by an act of state instead by King Henry VIII, paving the way for future nations and leaders to act outside of religious interest, such as the future "reason of state" and realpolitik movements. With the passing of the Act of Supremacy, the King was given complete control over the Church of England, in a way combining Church and State in order to work more easily, almost separating them in the central control.
4. Important to know about is the myriad causes and consequences of the French Wars of Religion, as it was an influential event in Europe's history. Started by a mix of discrimination against/rebellion by the Huguenots, the growing power of the French monarchy, and unrest among nobles and common towns and provinces, the French Wars were quite disastrous, putting a temporary halt on development of the French centralized territorial state. However, it was among the last of the major conflicts fueled mainly by religion, with a paradigm for the politique mindset emerging with Henry of Navarre taking the throne, filling whatever role was needed in order to aid the state and people, and eventually issuing the Edict of Nantes ensuring tolerance among the French Catholic and Protestant communities.
Essential Questions
1. What were the main causes of the Protestant Reformation and Northern Renaissance?
2. What social effects did the Protestant Reformation and Northern Renaissance have on Europe?
3. What political effects came about as the result of the English Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, and the French Wars of Religion?
4. What were the main changes to Christianity provided by the new Protestant sects, from Lutheranism to Calvinism, and how did they affect religion in Europe?
Written Source: Martin Luther's "95 Theses." Found at __http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil//history/95theses.htm__
Written in 1517 by the monk and theologian Martin Luther. With passages such as "There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of purgatory immediately as the money clinks in the bottom of the chest", Luther's document was considered controversial and subversive by the Catholic Church. Originally intending simply to call for some reform in the Catholic Church, Luther ended up becoming a major spark for the Protestant Reformation, as well as Lutheranism, the Catholic Reformation, Calvinism, indeed many events and movements of the sixteenth century can be attributed to Luther and his document. His work shed light on some of the papacy's corruption and disagreeable actions, largely the practice of indulgences, by dissenting with recent actions and composition of the Church. Luther's "95 Theses" for all its influence could be considered one of the most important documents of the sixteenth century.
Visual Source: Picture of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Found by typing title in google images.
This painting of the 1572 incident is important because it shows that the changing of Christian ideals and interests was not a smooth transition by any means, with violence breaking out between the French Huguenots and Catholics. Convinced by the radical Catholic Henry, Duke of Guise, the Valois King Charles IX attempted to take out many prominent Huguenot figures in one blow at the wedding of Henry of Navarre and Charles's sister. This event was a part of the French Wars of Religion, and an example of how political motivations helped add to the bloodshed of the major conflict.
Map: Source: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/map16rel.gif, connected from historyteacher.net Map of sixteenth century Europe showing major religious influences in varying parts of the continent. Clearly displays that while Roman Catholicism was still largely dominant, Protestant religions had gained a large following across the continent, leading to various disagreements and disputes between the Christian denominations.
Here are ten terms that one should be able to understand and explain in regards to the chapter:
Christian Renaissance Humanism
Martin Luther
95 Theses
Indulgences
Calvinism
Predestination
English Reformation
Council of Trent
Act of Supremacy
Politique
Chapter 13: Reformation and Religious Warfare in the Sixteenth Century
Big Ideas
1. The late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were the times of the Northern Renaissance. Important to understand at the center of the Northern Renaissance was the large emphasis on reform, specifically religious reform. Like the Italian Renaissance, scholars worked to extend their knowledge in a wide variety of fields, but focused on religion as an area of study with sources such as Saint Augustine and Jerome. Reformers and philosophers like Martin Luther, Erasmus, and Thomas More were the prominent figures of the sixteenth century for their work in the Northern Renaissance. Through education in classical and Christian fields, along with practice in humanism, an end to the perceived corruption and distortion of modern Christianity could come about.
2. Due to increasing corruption in the Catholic Church, many became disheartened with its ways, inspiring the Protestant Reformation. Indulgences, pluralism, greed, and general ineptitude inspired reformers such as Martin Luther in detailing grievances in documents such as the "Ninety-Five Theses", as well as new major religious ideas such as salvation by faith alone and figurative vs. literal interpretation of scripture and practice. Similar to the later separatist and puritan movements of the Church of England, Christianity was split into various forms by the Protestant Reformation, two major sects being Lutheranism and Calvinism. However, there soon followed a Catholic Revolution, with attempts within the papacy to reform Catholicism's ranks, focusing largely on reaffirming faith in the papacy and its doctrine (such as with the Council of Trent), education, and charity work for the poor and starving with the likes of the Order of St. Vincent de Paul.
3. Unlike the Protestant Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire and surrounding mainland countries, The English Protestant Reformation did not start principally by change in philosophy and religious insight. The English Reformation was initiated by an act of state instead by King Henry VIII, paving the way for future nations and leaders to act outside of religious interest, such as the future "reason of state" and realpolitik movements. With the passing of the Act of Supremacy, the King was given complete control over the Church of England, in a way combining Church and State in order to work more easily, almost separating them in the central control.
4. Important to know about is the myriad causes and consequences of the French Wars of Religion, as it was an influential event in Europe's history. Started by a mix of discrimination against/rebellion by the Huguenots, the growing power of the French monarchy, and unrest among nobles and common towns and provinces, the French Wars were quite disastrous, putting a temporary halt on development of the French centralized territorial state. However, it was among the last of the major conflicts fueled mainly by religion, with a paradigm for the politique mindset emerging with Henry of Navarre taking the throne, filling whatever role was needed in order to aid the state and people, and eventually issuing the Edict of Nantes ensuring tolerance among the French Catholic and Protestant communities.
Essential Questions
1. What were the main causes of the Protestant Reformation and Northern Renaissance?
2. What social effects did the Protestant Reformation and Northern Renaissance have on Europe?
3. What political effects came about as the result of the English Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, and the French Wars of Religion?
4. What were the main changes to Christianity provided by the new Protestant sects, from Lutheranism to Calvinism, and how did they affect religion in Europe?
Written Source: Martin Luther's "95 Theses." Found at __http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil//history/95theses.htm__
Written in 1517 by the monk and theologian Martin Luther. With passages such as "There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of purgatory immediately as the money clinks in the bottom of the chest", Luther's document was considered controversial and subversive by the Catholic Church. Originally intending simply to call for some reform in the Catholic Church, Luther ended up becoming a major spark for the Protestant Reformation, as well as Lutheranism, the Catholic Reformation, Calvinism, indeed many events and movements of the sixteenth century can be attributed to Luther and his document. His work shed light on some of the papacy's corruption and disagreeable actions, largely the practice of indulgences, by dissenting with recent actions and composition of the Church. Luther's "95 Theses" for all its influence could be considered one of the most important documents of the sixteenth century.
Visual Source: Picture of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Found by typing title in google images.
This painting of the 1572 incident is important because it shows that the changing of Christian ideals and interests was not a smooth transition by any means, with violence breaking out between the French Huguenots and Catholics. Convinced by the radical Catholic Henry, Duke of Guise, the Valois King Charles IX attempted to take out many prominent Huguenot figures in one blow at the wedding of Henry of Navarre and Charles's sister. This event was a part of the French Wars of Religion, and an example of how political motivations helped add to the bloodshed of the major conflict.
Map: Source: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/map16rel.gif, connected from historyteacher.net Map of sixteenth century Europe showing major religious influences in varying parts of the continent. Clearly displays that while Roman Catholicism was still largely dominant, Protestant religions had gained a large following across the continent, leading to various disagreements and disputes between the Christian denominations.
Here are ten terms that one should be able to understand and explain in regards to the chapter:
Christian Renaissance Humanism
Martin Luther
95 Theses
Indulgences
Calvinism
Predestination
English Reformation
Council of Trent
Act of Supremacy
Politique
Assessment:
Answer Key: